Canning Stock Route
2004
Friday
10th September.
This
morning’s route took us to Wilmington and on to Alligator Gorge where we only
did some short walks to Allys Lookout and Gorge Lookout, as it started raining.
Some kangaroos were there which had very long fur and the wattle is spectacular.
It is overcast and quite cold today. Moving on, we started coming into
farming area with canola,
wheat, sheep and pasture. The countryside is very green.
Melrose is
a beautiful town with
wide posts for the lights.
Many of
these have
been painted
with various
flowers etc. and were very pretty. One place had “caravan” accommodation,
which were built on truck bodies, original and imaginative. Their war memorial
was set on a hill, which overlooked the town. In the town of Laura there was
statue as a memorial to C. J. Dennis. It was then on through Spalding to Burra
for lunch on the river with ducks and other water birds. It was a very cold day!
We then continued on to Morgan and across the Murray River on the ferry. We took
a turnoff toward the river after Renmark and camped on a bend in the Murray near
Lock 8.The reflections on the water were beautiful and there was plenty of bird
life including pelicans, ducks, kites etc. as well as kangaroos. At tea time a
sudden wind squall came, which was very cold. Our coats came out again tonight
Saturday
11th September.
Some light rain fell last night and it was very windy.
Sometimes you could hear the wind before it arrived and occasionally there would
be some quiet lulls. It continued quite cold and windy this morning. The track
out of the campsite to the main road was very slippery as it is black soil
country. We started on the track toward Lock 9, but it wasn’t safe to use this
route, so we returned to the gravel road and back to the Sturt Highway. Morning
tea was at Mildura with hundreds of pelicans on the Murray River. Then it was on
through Balranald and across the Hay Plains. Some light showers fell, but more
would have been good to wash the car. The Murrumbidgee River
was chosen as a good spot for lunch and then it was on to the Weddin
Mountains National Park near Grenfell to camp for the night. It was almost dark
when we arrived and the fire was a bit difficult to light due to the wood being
wet. The camping area is now well set up with gas barbeques and seating under
shelter sheds. There are picnic and camping areas and toilets as well. It did
rain a little at night, but only briefly.
Sunday 12th
September.
First up this morning was a walk up the hill to Ben
Hall’s cave. Apparently Ben hall and his associates had used the cave for
shelter in their bush ranging days. It gave a good view over the general area.
That warmed us up, as it was a very cold morning. After we packed up we headed
out through Grenfell. The day was overcast, but not windy like yesterday (yet).
Cowra was morning tea and it was very cold and windy. We went through Carcoar
where they have wind generators. The dams around here are full and
the
vegetation is green. Blayney has a marshalling yard, which had hundreds of
shipping containers lined up. Continuing on to Bathurst, we went up the top of
Mt Panorama to watch the prologue for the Australian Safari. There were only
about 27 vehicles in it this year as well as the bikes. The prologue was run one
way and then in the reverse direction, with the combined times determining the
starting order for the race. We found Terry Denham and the boys and had a look
at his vehicle. We also had a look at the other vehicles. It was not a pleasant
day to be watching racing as it was extremely windy and cold. Terry managed to
achieve second place in the prologue for the race, which started on Monday. We
left Bathurst late in the afternoon and headed home, very tired but having
enjoyed the whole trip very much.
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